Spending cut under new highway construction plan

JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri transportation officials have approved a five-year highway construction plan that sharply scales back spending compared with recent years.

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approved the new plan Wednesday. The blueprint proposes to spend about $600 million on roads each year, compared with an average $1.2 billion annually in recent years.

Transportation Department officials said they'll concentrate on maintaining the state's major highways and improving smaller state roads, while also doing needed repairs and maintenance on bridges.

Agency director Kevin Keith says Missourians are unlikely to see many new construction projects.